Wirfs (knee) is expected to start the regular season on Tampa Bay's 53-man roster so he can participate in practice, but he likely won't play until October, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Buccaneers are expected to utilize a similar approach with both Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin (PUP-ankle). Wirfs is currently on the active/PUP list. If Wirfs is sidelined for all of September, he would miss the first four games of the regular season. The Buccaneers could start backup Charlie Heck at left tackle during Wirfs' absence or slide Luke Goedeke over from right tackle to protect Baker Mayfield's blind side.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Doing 'excellent job' in recovery
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Wirfs, who had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in July, was down to utilizing just one crutch Tuesday and is coming along well in his recovery, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht sounded an optimistic tone about the star left tackle Tuesday, saying Wirfs was doing "an excellent job" in his recovery process. However, the Bucs are naturally proceeding with caution, with Licht adding the caveat the team needs to be careful to not rush the All-Pro's return to football activities. Wirfs has previously been projected to miss the start of the regular season but not necessarily profile as a candidate for the reserve/PUP list.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Placed on active/PUP list
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Tampa Bay placed Wirfs (knee) on the active/PUP list Tuesday.
Wirfs underwent surgery on his right knee earlier this month and is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. There's a chance Wirfs will open the regular season on the reserve/PUP list, which would cost him at least the first four games of the year, but coach Todd Bowles recently told JoeBucsFan.com that Wirfs will be "ready sooner than later."
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Expected back early in season?
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Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles recently told joebucsfan.com that Wirfs (knee) "will be ready sooner than later" but not necessarily for Week 1.
"I don't know if it's Week 1, 2, 3," Bowles said. Wirfs had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee July 8, with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reporting at the time that the star left tackle likely would miss "at least the first couple games" of the regular season. Bowles' comments sound like he expects Wirfs back at some point in September or maybe October, which should be manageable for a team that otherwise returns all of last year's starters on an offensive line that was among the best in the league.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Expected to miss start of season
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Wirfs underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday and is expected to miss the start of the regular season, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wirfs dealt with the knee issue last season but missed just one regular-season contest. However, he aggravated the injury this offseason and was spotted wearing a brace during minicamp. The Bucs scheduled a knee scope for Wirfs on Tuesday, and additional minor damage was found during the procedure, according to Stroud, who also notes that Wirfs will likely begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. That would cost Wirfs at least the first four games of the campaign. Charlie Heck is expected to be the next man up at left tackle for Tampa Bay. Losing Wirfs is a big blow to the entire offense, as he's a road grader in the running game and protects Baker Mayfield's blind side in passing situations.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Sidelined at minicamp
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Wirfs (knee) was held out of Tampa Bay's minicamp session Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Wirfs was spotted wearing a brace on his right knee, but head coach Todd Bowles said his absence was just precautionary. Wirfs is expected to be healthy in time for training camp, when he will return to his role as the team's starting left tackle.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Active Sunday
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Wirfs (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The starting left tackle was questionable coming into Sunday after spraining his MCL in Week 10 against the 49ers and missing the Bucs' Week 12 win over the Giants. Wirfs was also a limited participant in practice throughout the week leading up to this game. The fifth-year pro, who signed a five-year, $140.63-million extension in August, has started all 10 games he's played in this season and all 81 that he's played in over the course of his career.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Iffy for Week 13
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Wirfs (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Wirfs sprained his MCL in Week 10 against the 49ers, and even with the Week 11 bye, he was unable to play in Week 12 against the Giants. Wirfs was a limited practice participant all week, and he has a chance to reclaim his starting spot at left tackle Sunday. If Wirfs is unable to play, Justin Skule would be in line to start at left tackle for a second straight game.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Inactive for Week 12
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Wirfs (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Wirfs sprained his MCL during the Buccaneers' Week 10 loss to the 49ers. He initially was listed as questionable for Sunday's game after practicing in a limited capacity all week but was downgraded to doubtful Saturday. Wirfs' next opportunity to suit up will be Week 13 against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 1. Justin Skule is the top candidate to start at left tackle due to Wirfs being sidelined.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Questionable for Sunday
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Wirfs (knee/foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Giants, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
The 25-year-old offensive lineman sprained his right MCL in Tampa Bay's Week 10 loss to the 49ers and practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week. If Wirfs is unable to suit up for the Week 12 matchup, expect Justin Skule to protect Baker Mayfield's blindside.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Limited to open week
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Wirfs (knee/foot) was limited in practice Wednesday.
Wirfs sprained his right MCL during Tampa Bay's Week 10 loss to San Francisco. The 2020 first-round pick took advantage of the Bucs' Week 11 bye to get additional rest and rehab on his knee, and he was able to participate in Wednesday's practice. Wirfs will have two more chances this week to increase his practice participation ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Will be week-to-week after bye
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Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Wirfs (knee) will be week-to-week after the Buccaneers' bye in Week 11, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Wirfs underwent an MRI to examine the knee injury he sustained during Sunday's game versus the 49ers, but it fortunately returned as nothing more than a low-grade MCL sprain. If he does miss any game action as he recovers, Justin Skule would likely step into a starting role at one of Tampa Bay's tackle spots.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Dealing with possible MCL injury
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Wirfs potentially suffered an injury to his MCL on Sunday, and he'll have an MRI to determine the extent of the issue, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Wirfs has been ruled out from returning to Sunday's matchup against San Francisco, and his initial diagnosis suggests he could miss additional time. However, Rapoport notes that if the MCL injury is confirmed, it would mean that the All-Pro offensive tackle has a "likelihood" of returning this season. That could be huge for a Tampa Bay squad that still has playoff aspirations.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Won't return vs. San Francisco
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Wirfs (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the 49ers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Wirfs was immediately taken back to the locker room after suffering a knee injury in the first half. With Wirfs sidelined for the rest of Sunday's game, Justin Skule will remain at left tackle.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Skipping OTAs, awaits new contract
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Wirfs is not present Tuesday at OTAs and does not plan to return to team facilities any time soon, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Wirfs reportedly doesn't want to risk suffering an injury before signing a multi-year contract extension with the Buccaneers, as he's currently slated to play out the 2024 campaign on the fifth-year option from his rookie contract. That would provide Wirfs a fully guaranteed salary north of $18.2 million, but the three-time Pro Bowler is prioritizing long-term security. Tampa Bay has already locked up Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield with new deals this offseason.
Wirfs (shoulder) was listed as a DNP at Wednesday's estimated practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
It's unclear when Wirfs picked up the shoulder issue, but his availability for Week 18 is now in doubt regardless. He'll likely have to practice Thursday or Friday to give himself a chance to suit up Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Adjusting well to new position
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Wirfs' acclimation to his new position of left tackle is going smoothly thus far in training camp, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports. "He's adjusted well over there, I think," head coach Todd Bowles said. "There's probably still some kinks he needs to work out, probably when we get in pads, from a hand-placement standpoint, but I think he's done an excellent job so far."
The 2020 first-round pick has already proven a success at right tackle over his first three seasons, earning two Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro nod. He's now moving over to the opposite end of the line to replace the departed Donovan Smith and provide valuable blindside protection for either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask this coming season, and although the Buccaneers have yet to don pads, Wirfs is displaying impressive technique thus far in drills.
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Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs: Will work at LT this spring
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Wirfs could be the starting left tackle in 2023, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times also reported Monday that Wirfs would be making the switch to left tackle after the Bucs failed to address the spot during the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud mentioned Luke Goedeke as an option to replace Wirfs at right tackle if the the two-time Pro Bowler did make the position change. However, general manager Jason Licht said in a radio interview Tuesday that the decision to move Wirfs is not "etched in stone," so for now, it appears he will simply be working on both sides of the line during offseason workouts.
The Buccaneers picked up Wirfs' fifth-year option Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The option on Wirfs' rookie contract was picked up ahead of the May 1 deadline, and the 24-year-old now will be locked in with Tampa Bay through the 2024 season. The 2020 first-round pick should continue to serve as an anchor for the Buccaneers' offensive line and is in line for a big payday when this contract is up.
